She took Lily’s hand at the bottom, her fingers tight around the girl’s wrist.

Lily stopped at the passenger door, pulled the red ribbon from her pocket, and wound it once around her thumb before climbing in.

The starter in Rebecca’s car ground for three long seconds before the engine caught with a wet rattle.

The red taillights backed out into the street, throwing two crimson squares across the wet leaves before disappearing past the church steeple.

I stood in the doorway under the yellow porch light and held the small hat against my chest.